Sunday, September 7, 2008

"The Palestinian Authority's security forces have shown marked improvement in their action against Hamas and Islamic Jihad recently, according to Israeli security officials. A particularly dramatic change has taken place over the past month in an area in which the PA had not been previously active - dealing with the Islamic charity and civilian associations considered to constitute Hamas' civilian infrastructure.

In recent weeks, the PA has managed to take control of a number of major charity organizations in Nablus and Hebron, areas that in the past were considered bastions of Hamas power. Meanwhile, the Palestinian security forces are continuing to apprehend wanted [by Israel] men affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

In Nablus, the PA has taken over a group of charity associations known as Tadamun (solidarity). The Hamas-operated organization includes a network of clinics, schools and other institutions. The PA dismissed the group's board and put its own supporters in charge....."